Obama, Rouhani speak by phone

9/27/13 4:09 PM EDT

President Obama and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani broke more than three decades of silence between their offices as they spoke by phone on Friday.

Obama confirmed the call while speaking in the White House briefing room, and Rouhani tweeted about the call moments before Obama spoke.

Though Obama and Rouhani were unable to meet face-to-face earlier this week at the United Nations, their call Friday did give the president hope that U.S. and Iran will be able to work together to resolve tensions over Tehran’s nuclear program. “I believe we can reach a comprehensive solution,” Obama said.

“We’re mindful of all the challenges ahead,” he continued. “The very fact that this was the first communication between an American and Iranian president since 1979 underscores the deep mistrust between our countries, but it also indicates the prospect of moving beyond that difficult history. I do believe that there is a basis for a resolution.”

Rouhani offered his own take on the call from his English-language Twitter account. "In phone convo, President #Rouhani and President @BarackObama expressed their mutual political #will to rapidly solve the #nuclear issue," one message read.

The president and the Iranian leader break more than 30 years of silence between their offices.